IMDb > The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)
The Spiderwick Chronicles
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The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 49 | slideshow) Videos (see all 32)
The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008) -- The Spiderwick Chronicles Trailer
The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008) -- Clip: Have to protect the house
The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008) -- Behind the scenes: Climbing On The Roof
The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008) -- Interview: Seth Rogen "On his character"
The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008) -- US Home Video Trailer from Paramount Pictures/Nickelodeon Movies

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Overview

User Rating:
6.8/10   16,877 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Karey Kirkpatrick (screenplay) and
David Berenbaum (screenplay) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Spiderwick Chronicles on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
14 February 2008 (USA) more
Tagline:
Their World Is Closer Than You Think more
Plot:
Upon moving into the run-down Spiderwick Estate with their mother, twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace, along with their sister Mallory, find themselves pulled into an alternate world full of faeries and other creatures. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
1 win & 6 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(96 articles)
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User Comments:
Special-Effects Make It Fun more (104 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Spiderwick Chronicles: The IMAX Experience (USA) (IMAX version)
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MPAA:
Rated PG for scary creature action and violence, peril and some thematic elements.
Runtime:
96 min | 107 min (unrated version)
Country:
Language:
Colour:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Film prints were shipped to some theaters under the fake title "Widow". more
Goofs:
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Aunt Lucie has an American accent as a young girl in the flashback but a British accent as an old woman. more
Quotes:
Jared Grace: [reading Arthur Spiderwick's book] What the hell. more
Movie Connections:
References "The Addams Family" (1964) more

FAQ

A Note Regarding Spoilers
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
Is this "The Spiderwich Chronicles" based on a book?
more
11 out of 12 people found the following comment useful.
Special-Effects Make It Fun, 21 August 2008
8/10
Author: ccthemovieman-1 from Lockport, NY, United States

This is another of those fantasy films that serves its purpose in that it entertains, no matter what the age. It's not among the elite in its genre, but it is a story that hooks you in by the 20-minute mark and you just go along for the ride, mainly to see how things will turn out.

There is good suspense in here, enough to make adults care about what happens, not just kids. There also are some scary scenes that are probably too much for small kids, but fine for teens on up. In all, you get a good mix of horror, comedy, fantasy and drama all rolled into one odd (fantasy) story.

Child acting star Freddie Highmore, who seems to get cast in a lot of these fantasies (Charlie And The Chocolate Family," "August Rush," "Arthur And The Invisibles," and "The Golden Compass") has a dual role in here, playing brothers "Jared"and "Simon Grace." Freddie is a fine actor, so no problem in that department. I hate to hear child actors, using God's name as exclamations, though, but that's not Highmore's doing. The only other annoyance is the frequent shouting with an older sister. However, once the adventure kicks into high gear, the arguing stops as the kids try to solve their major dilemma as a unit.

Nick Nolte plays the big villain, "Mulgarath." but his role is surprisingly small. It's all those ugly, nasty little creatures who surround the house, who are the "bad guys." There are a number of somewhat scary scenes involving them, enough to entertain the post-pre-adolescent crowd.

The star of the film isn't Freddie or the actors, or the story.....it's the special-effects, which are very good and a lot of fun to watch, from little beings to monsters to fairies to whatever. I saw this on Blu-Ray and it really looks good. All of it is very colorful and entertaining to view, making this a film fun for both kids and adults.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Am I the only one who KNEW Jared and Simon were the same kid?? mrssutherland2009
Should this be remade with a bigger budget? cunningham1471
If you read the books parkviewmanagement
Lord of the Rings inspired? mikaila-multari
Young Lucinda - bad casting!! xsugaryxsweetnessx
Things I learned from the Spiderwick Chronicles DasDingAnSich
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Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
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The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone The Wizard of Oz Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
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